Councillors have refused to sign up to a Cabinet Office document on procurement because of concerns over the role of big business.
Concerns about the timetable set by the document also contributed to the LGA’s decision to compile a separate local government ‘procurement pledge’.
Peter Fleming (Con), chair of the LGA’s improvement board, said: “There is a desire among town halls to build consensus with the government on this issue, but it is important that any agreement isn’t shaped around the interests of big business.”
The central government document had called on councils to make their procurement compliant within four months, felt by some in the LGA to be unachievable.
The local government ‘procurement pledge is out for consultation with the sector until June. It tackles complaints about European procurement rules.
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